Better toolpaths help keep work onshore

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END USER: Bob’s Design Engineering Inc., (503) 648-7418, www.bdeinc.com. CHALLENGE: Retain contract for electronics components against offshore competition. SOLUTION: High-performance toolpath generation engine. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Celeritive Technologies Inc., (888) 253-6701, www.celeritive.com.

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It was a big score for a medium-size shop like Bob’s Design Engineering Inc.: a lucrative contract machining components for a subassembly needed by a U.S.-based computer and printer manufacturer. Most of the components, including ballscrews, cradles and drive mechanisms, are aluminum, and some are stainless steel. The parts range in size from pieces that can fit in the palm of your hand to a plate requiring a 72 ” milling capability.

Courtesy of Celeritive Technologies

Using VoluMill, Bob’s Design Engineering programmed this complex test piece in 30 minutes and milled it out of 304 stainless steel in less than 13 minutes at 530 sfm.

Founded by Bob Hole and based in Hillsboro, Ore., Bob’s Design made the parts for 18 months before the contract came up for rebid. The rebid process was complicated by the fact a former employee of the customer went to a competing supplier in Southeast Asia, and gave that shop inside knowledge of Bob’s production methods and costs.